"The ‘Rainbow Nation’ was a dream that we never woke up from. There have been steps in the right direction... baby steps at best."

Writing ahead of International Youth Day, student volunteer Jordan Pieters reflects on The Elders' visit to District Six and the crucial role the museum plays in confronting historic and contemporary injustice in post-apartheid South Africa.

Dr. Alaa Murabit, UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, Michael J. Smith and Musarrat Maisha Reza mark International Women's Day by highlighting the link between the empowerment of women and girls and their ability to access education and health care.

"Even as people are building walls and closing borders, we need to construct a progressive narrative around freedom of movement and human rights."

Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary-General of CIVICUS, marks Human Rights Day by reflecting on civil society's successes and challenges, noting the declining space for citizens to organise and mobilise and calling for the need to construct a progressive narrative around freedom of movement and human rights.

"SDGs are like a mirror to us: these are our issues and responsibilities, and we really need to change the ways we act."

As the work to secure climate progress continues at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference (COP22), Marja Innanen, Deputy Secretary General of the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development (FNCSD), argues that the SDGs are "a mirror" reflecting the responsibilities of developed countries and outlining Finland's approach to the 2030 Agenda.

One year on from the signing of the Sustainable Development Goals, how are countries in the developing and developed world making progress in their implementation? In the first of a series of guest blogs on this issue, Dr. Monica Araya from Costa Rican civil society group Costa Rica Limpia reflects on coalition-building and grassroots efforts to support the SDGs.

From building relationships with the military and ethnic armed groups, to satisfying political activists hungry for rapid change, Myanmar’s new government faces multiple challenges, argues our senior policy consultant, Matthew J Walton.

"Our women lived and survived through the nuclear testing, and we will weather the storms of climate change as well."

Climate activist and poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner marks International Women’s Day by celebrating the strength and resilience of Marshall Islands’ women and highlights the importance of including women in tackling climate change.

"These are now doubly vulnerable, doubly displaced and falling through the cracks of the international protection regime."

Refugees for over six decades, Palestinians in Syria face a precarious legal status given the civil war and renewed displacement. Mai Abu Moghli – a PhD candidate at the Institute of Education, University of London explains how some are falling through the cracks of the international protection regime and calls for a solution based on human rights and international law.

Violence against women is sometimes justified by abusers and perpetrators as a matter of ‘honour’. In this guest blog to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, youth activist Arifa Nasim from London explains how she uses education to challenge prejudice within communities and encourages women of all ages and backgrounds to empower themselves.

Language is being extensively used, many times with specific intent, to stigmatise those crossing borders

Europe is currently facing a crisis of conscience as refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa seek asylum. Michael Diedring and John Dorber of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles explain how calculated use of language on the crisis can create a hostile environment for refugees when used by media and politicians.

The Elders are independent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.